Class Acts Converge On The Knavesmire

[Wandering Eyes]

The G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks usually attracts the best of the Classic crop and Thursday’s edition is no exception with the French and Irish Oaks heroines Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) battling for the season’s bragging rights. The latter has already upstaged the winner of the G1 Epsom Oaks in Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the July 21 Curragh equivalent and conditions have stayed right for her. James Doyle was lauded for his ride on the Tsui family’s representative there and Sea of Class suits his style ideally. “She likes to relax, chill out in the early part of a race and then come home really good,” he explained. “She showed what she could do in Ireland and, being very lightly raced, I’ll be amazed if she has not improved since. She’s unexposed and if she keeps improving could be anything.”

Laurens has enjoyed a break after prevailing in a blanket finish for the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 17 and would be providing Northern owner John Dance with a crowning moment on top of those already created in the 10 1/2-furlong Classic, the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp May 27 and G1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in October. The unbuckling professionalism of Laurens means that she is a filly made for this terrain and jockey PJ McDonald has the most straightforward ride in the race. “You could go through your whole career and not find a horse like her. She’s a once-in-a-lifetime filly,” he said. “It’s been a privilege to be involved with her, but the exciting and scary thing is that she’s still improving, still getting stronger. I’m itching to ride her over a mile and a half because if she improves again for stepping up in trip then she could be an absolute monster. We always thought she would have no problem staying and I have no doubts in my mind, whatsoever, after the way she won the French Oaks. Most of them have all run over the distance, whereas my filly is still unexposed over that trip. None of us have a crystal ball and she might not get home, but I would be shocked if that was the case. The dam’s side of her pedigree is all stamina.”

Trainer Karl Burke added, “William Haggas’s is a very good filly so I’m not surprised she’s favourite, but Laurens’s style of winning maybe leaves everyone to think that is all she is. We think there’s a bit more in the tank and we’ll find out here.”

Aidan O’Brien’s opening day at York went by in the same vein as most of the recent ones, with mixed messages and Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the latest big name to offer more evidence as to the stable’s overall form here. One of those affected by the virus that has rampaged through the esteemed Rosegreen establishment when fifth as favourite for the Irish Oaks last time, she had previously beaten Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with real panache by four lengths under aggressive tactics in Royal Ascot’s G2 Ribblesdale S. June 21. Compatriot Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is unbeaten since finishing third in the G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh last July and enjoyed a perfect prep last time when making a successful seasonal debut in the G3 Ballyroan S. over this trip at Leopardstown Aug. 9. His Highness The Aga Khan’s representatives can never be readily ignored in this type of affair and along with the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud runner-up and King George third Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) provides a solid test for the 3-year-olds.

A Royal Rematch…

The G2 Sky Bet Lowther S. brings the all-important G3 Albany S. form into play yet again, with the third and fourth Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Angel’s Hideaway (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) re-opposing. The former, a ‘TDN Rising Star’ who had previously captured the Listed Marble Hill S. at The Curragh May 26, has been absent since “winning” on her side in that June 22 Royal Ascot contest only to lose out to Main Edition (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) overall. With the Ballydoyle runners seeming to need their returns, she may find that Angel’s Hideaway has too many guns on this occasion after she subsequently took the G3 Princess Margaret S. at Ascot July 28. Cheveley Park Stud’s managing director Chris Richardson said of Angel’s Hideaway, “She’s quite a character and she’s used to dumping her lad quite regularly on the gallops. She’s a sparky filly, but truly talented. We can only go step by step, but she’s very done little wrong.”

Richard Fahey’s runners always command respect at this meeting and the Cool Silk Partnership’s Flawless Jewel (Fr) (Kheleyf) is a half-sister to last year’s G2 Gimcrack S. winner Sands of Mali (Fr) (Panis) who beat modest rivals by 16 lengths over five furlongs at Pontefract July 29. “Obviously it’s a big step up for her. She’s a work in progress, so we’re giving it a punt,” he said.

One of Yorkshire racing and breeding’s great connections was with the late Sir Henry Cecil and he is honoured in the Listed British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres S. for fillies and mares over almost 12 furlongs. Thursday’s renewal plays host to one of the season’s most talked-about 3-year-old fillies in the ‘TDN Rising Star’ Lah Ti Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The Lloyd-Webbers’ Listed Pretty Polly S. winner remains in the St Leger, as does Khalid Abdullah’s G2 Ribblesdale S. third Sun Maiden (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who was an astonishing 38-lengths last of four in Goodwood’s G3 Gordon S. Aug. 4 which was obviously not her running.

View the full article